Folding machine and method



Dec. 17, 1929. A. R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Sept. 1. 1920 m m e n d r M 1m w m R WW 3 5 1929- A. R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed sefit. 1, 2 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec- 17, 1 9. A. R. RmDERs'TRQM 1,740, 08

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Sept. 1, 192 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 [nvenl'or l7 ndrew f2}? z'dderslrqm By flllarney Dec. 17, 1929;

R. RIDDERSTROM FOLDING MACHINE AND ME'JIHOD Original Filed Sept. 1, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1929- A. R.- RIDDERSTROM 1,740,403

FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Sept. 1. 192 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES ANDREW R. RIDDERS'I'ROM, OF NAI-IANT, IYIASSAGHUSE'ETS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATEESON, NEVT JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FOLDING MACHINE AND METHOD Application filed September 1, 1920, Serial No. 407,336.

The present invention relates to folding methods and machines, and more particularly to methods of and machines for folding a binding strip around the edge of a boot or 6 shoe upper to which it is attached. The more important features of novelty of the present invention are claimed in Letters Patent No. 1,527,396, February 24, 1925. The claims of the present application are restricted to subsidiary features of novelty, many of which are of broader application than to folding machines.

The binding strip is usually sewed upon a face of the upper along an edge thereof, after which the strip is folded around the said edge and into even contact with the opposite face. In order that the binding strip, after folding, may lie evenly and smoothly against the said opposite face, it is necessary that the strip be first wiped tightly across the edge to which it is secured and their pulled and held tightly during the folding operation and while it is pressed against the said opposite face; and it is necessary also that the strip be folded exactly at the propel oints or lines, and not to one side thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and machine for folding binding strips. With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of the method and machine an embodiment of which is hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section, upon a reduced scale, of a machine embodying the present invention; F ig. 2 is a plan of the forward part of the machine; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the forward part of the machine, showing parts broken away and in section; Fig. 4 is a perspective of a rotary wiper and a co-operating retainer, with connected elements, and show ing also an adjusting handle in position; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the rotary wiper; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially upon the line 66 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is a front view of the upper forward part of the machine, showing the stock-sup- Renewed May 28, 1928.

porting table in section along the line 77 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially upon the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged detail plans showing two steps performed in the illustrative machine during the operation of folding a bind ing strip attached to a shoe upper;Fig. 11 is an elevation corresponding to the plan of Fig. 9, with the shoe upper and the binding strip in section; Fig. 12 is an elevation corresponding to the plan of Fig. 10, showing the upper and the binding strip in vertical sec tion along the line 1212 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; Figs. 13 and 14 are views similar to Figs. 9 and 10, showing two additional steps in the operation of the illustrative machine; Fig. 15 is an elevation corresponding to the plan of Fig. 13, showing the upper and the binding strip in vertical section along the line 1515 of Fig. 13, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken upon the line 1616 of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 17 is a section of a shoe upper, showing an unfolded binding strip attached thereto; Fig. 18 is a section similar to Fig. 17, showing the binding strip in finally folded position upon the upper; F 19 is a front view showing a modified form of wiper constituting the subject matter of a copending application, Serial No. 581,154,

filed August 11, 1922; Fig. 20 is a corresponding view of the rotary wiper; and Figs. 21 and 22 are views corresponding to Figs. 19 and 20, respectively, illustrating the wiping action.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with the folding of a binding strip 2 of cloth, silk and the like, around the edge 4 of a sheet of leather or other material 6, such as a boot or shoe upper. An edge 8 of the binding strip is stitched at 12 to a face 10 of the shoe upper along the edge 4, so that the sheet and the strip extend at an angle to each other from the secured-together edges 4 and 8. It will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other articles than that which is herein chosen for purposes of illustration, and the elements of the article need not necessarily be of the relative dimensions shown.

The shoe upper is initiallv placed in the machine upon a platform or support 24, Figs.

6, 10 and 12, with the face 10 of the upper in.

contact with the support. An end of the free or unsecured edge 26 of the strip 2 is initially moved across and aroundthe sewiped tightly across the secured-together edges 4 and 8, or away from the stitches, as shown more particularly at36, Fig. 15,'by the combined action of a wiper 38 and a retainerpoint 40 that presses down heavily at thistime upontheupper directly opposite to the ,point of action of the wiper. Itis very important to the subsequent operation that the strip be wiped very tightly. In order to enable the wiper 38 to operate, .the strip 2 is progressively moved lightly or loosely by the operators fingers from the position of Fig. 17 more or less into the plane of the shoeupper sheet 6, as the shoe upper is fed 'forward throughthe machine. The successively wiped portions are initially intermittently folded around the secured-together edges 4 and 8 by the plow andthey are gripped intermittently between the interior side face 2 of the feed point and the plow 32, becoming thereby pulled tightly. The intermittent wiping, and'folding and gripping operations are performed upon the succesisve portions of the strip alternately during successive pauses in the feed. The plow-fold d portions are advanced by the feed point and a cooperating feed block 41 that is carried integrally with the plow 32 upon the plate 34 to a combined folder and fold presser 42. The fold presser folds the plow-folded portions of the stripfurther and presses them down against the otherface 16 of the sheet, as shown in F 18. The preferred fold presser 42 is described in the said Letters Patent, and in Letters Patent No. 1,527,395, also granted February 24, .1925.

These operations'are continued in timed relation to one another until the whole strip has become folded, as described more fully in the-said Letters Patent l lo.-1,527,396. Reference. is made to the said Letters Patent-for a fuller description of somuch of the machineas isinotfully disclosed. herein, because unnecessary toan understanding of the present invention.

memes the wiper disk is provided with teeth 48,

Figs. 4 and 5, meshing with worm threads 50 upon one end of a shaft 52 mounted in a bearing 54,-Fig. 2. Theother-or free end of the shaft 52 is provided with a ball 56 mounted in a socket 58 upon the forward end of a shaft60. The purpose of this construction is primarily to permitof adjusting the wiper vertically. This may be effected by vertically adjusting a bracketfil, Fig. 3, that carries the bearing 54, through the medium of screws 63 in enlarged openings 65 of the bracket. The vertical adjustment may be effected without disturbing the ball-andsocket connection between the shafts 52 and 60, as described in the saidLettersPatent No. 1,527,396.

The shaft 60 carries a .gear 62that meshes with a gear upon a driving shaft 66 that is horizontally ournaled inbearingsof the machine frame. The ball-and-socket connection permits the shaft 60 being inclinedto the driving shaft .65. means of this construction, the wiper is rotated fromthe driving shaft through the medium of a pin-and-slot relationship between theball andthe socket i t tl blll- It e M11611 s oi 1v a anc soc {e CODIIQCLIOII.

The driving shaft 66 is driven bymechanism shown more particularly in Fig. 1, and need not be further described, as a'full description may be found in the abovementioned Letters Patent. The said Letters Patent contain also a description of the details of the construction and operation of the feed mechanism.

The feed point 30 is 1 ivotally mounted at upon the rocking support 94 so as to be rocked or oscillated therewith and with the lower feed block 41, as described inthe said Letters Patent, and is normally maintained in contact with the feed block by a leaf spring 112. The body portion118 of the feedpoint is slotted and screw post 120 is'adjustably clamped between the side walls of theslot by ii-screw 122, 6. The upper face 104 of a diagonally cylindrical block 102 is adapted to {engage the post 120, thereby toraise thefeed point 30, in opposition to the pressure of the spring 112. The degree of adjustment ofthe screw post 120 determines the :amount by which the feed point will be raised above the fed block. The screw 120 may also besemployed to take up for wear. Anadditional adj ustable'member 123is provided-to prevent the feed point, which is preferably: provided with gripping teeth, becoming lowered into contact with the feed block when the machine is running idly, thereby preventing the feed point poundinguselessly against the feed block when no stock is interposed. In the absence of the member 123, the screw post 120 may be suitably adjusted for a similar purpose. The tension of the spring 112 upon the body portion 118 of the feed point may be adjusted by a clamp screw 124, Figs. 1 and 9, having a shoulder 126 for engaging the spring. The feed point may thus be caused to engage the stock with varying; degrees of pressure dependent upon the degree of adjustment of the clamp screw 124. In order to prevent lateral movement of the spring 112, it is mounted in a longitudinal slot 128 pro vided in the upper surface of the machine frame.

During the left-to-riglit oscillating movement of the rocking support 94. as described ,in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,527,396, the separated feed point and feed block move backward from the fold presser towards the wiper. The feed elements are thus returned to take a new hold upon the stock, in preparation for the next forward movement of the feed elements. Portions of the strip 2 that have previously been wiped are during; this return movement engaged by the plow and by it civen an initial fold, as will be clear from Fig. 9. In this figure, the feedelements and the plow are shown as having" retracted their movement to the starting point and as about to move forward again, in the direction of the arrow. As the plow is integral with the feed block. it will oscillate with the feeding means. The mounting of the plow an d. therefore, also of the feed block, is pivotal for purposes of adjustment. the pivot point being shown at 130, Figs. 6 and 16, but a stiff coil spring 132, mounted in a recess 134 of the plate 34, and acting against the body of the plate 34 at 136, fand against the holder 93 at 137, renders the plow practically rigid with the r chino; support. eizcept that provision is thereby made for clearing seams and other irregularly thick parts of the strip without injuring the same. In case the plow wears down. or if it is desired, for other reasons, to adjust the plow relatively to the feed point 30, as when it is desired to operate upon thicker or thinner strips. the adjustment may be effected along the active face of the plow by means of an ad justing' screw 138 threaded in a lu r 140 of the plate 34 and engaging the rocking support 94 The space between the feed point and the plow should be just large enough to enable the plow to fold most effectivel without interference from friction by the feed point, and neither larger nor smaller. The des red relation between the feed point and the plow may be regulated to some extent by the adjusting screw 188. When the feed point and the plow are properly positioned relatively strip pulled tight during the subsequent feed movement until the feed point again rises preparatory to the next return feed move ment. When the feed point rises, the strip is readily released once more, so that it again lies loosely, enabling the plow to fold prop erlv.

As described in the above-designated Letters Patent Nos. 1.527.395 and 1,527.396. the fold presser is floating'ly pivoted at 146, Fig. 3. to one end of a link 148 the other end of which is eccentrically connected by a pin 150, Fig. 1, to a spiral gear 152 meshing; with a spiral gear 154 upon the driving shaft 66. The exterior surface of the fold presser is cylindrical, shown at 156, Figs. 3 and 12, so as to rock within a cylindrical bearing- 158 provided at the free end of an arm 160 the other end of which is pivoted at 162.

Sometimes, it is desired to have the stock rest upon a tab e 176, shown in Fig. 1 as supported b adjustable abutments 17 8, and encircling the platform or support 24 and the ope sting mechanism. Upon other occasions, this table may be pivotally moved out of the way about a pivotal axis 175). The table is of relatively small width at the side next to the operator, as will be clear from Fig. 7, so that the stock may be fed to the operating instrumentalities without the table causing the strip that is underneath the upper to resist by friction the wiping action of the wiper. On the other side. the table may be of relatively large widtl to permit the stock resting thereon.

The retainer of the present invention may assume any one of a number of forms. It is illustrated in most of the views as comprising not only the retainer 153, which correspends. in some degree, to the retainer of the above-described Letters Patent No. 1,527,395, but the retainer point 40 as well, the latter co-operating with the wiper. The retaineroperating mechanism will be described first and is claimed herein. Claims not limited to the specific retainer or its operating mechanism may be found in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,527,396.

A pin 180, Fig. 4, is transversely fixedly secured to the rear end of a rock shaft 182 and forms the ball element of a ball-andsocket connection the socket element 184 of which is provided at one end of a linl: 186. The shaft 182 is rockingly mounted in bearings of the machine frame. The other end of the link is similarly connected by a balland-socket connection 188 to a bell-crank lever 190 that is pivoted to the frame of the machine at 192. The lever is connected at 194 by a link 196 to the same pin 1 50 by which the :link 148 is .eccentrically connected tothe .gear 152, Fig. .1. The retainer 158, Fig. 4, is thus operated in' timed relation 'to-the wiping, feeding and folding instrumentalities through the gear 15%, Fig. 1, that is mounted upon the driving shaft 66. By suitably designing-the relative positions of the points 150, 192and :l9 l,a little better timing of-the fold presser and the retainer 153 is rendered possible than in the machine of'the previous ly-mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,527,395. As the gear 152 is rotated through a complete revolution to effect the operation of the fold presser, through the pin 150 and the link 148, the bell-crank lever 190 will cause the link 186 to rock about the pins 180 and 188 towards the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, to and beyond the dead-center point, and backto its original position. Asthe pivotal point 192 is fixed in position upon themachine frame, the link 186 will be carried upwards during its rocking movement, causing the pin 180 to rock the shaft 182. 'The shaft 182 will be rocked to its limiting position when, thelink 186 reaches the dead-centerpoinhbut owing to the belowdescribed, resilient mounting of the retainer uponthe shaft 182.-,the retainer 153 will oper ate to press 'down upon the stock, and the retainer point .40 will press the stock the wiper, for a'period of time preceding and following the attainment of the deadcenter'point by the link 186. The retainer and the retainer point are in'this manner caused to dwell for a relativelylonger period of time. During this period, the fold presser operates to press the strip against'the upper, the feed point thereupon rises to release the work, and the fold presser and the feed elements return to their initial positions. At the end of the return movement, when the feed elements close in upon the .stoclnto feed it forward again, the link 186 moves so as to release the retainer, so that the feeding movement may commence again without interference from the latter.

The retainer and the retainerpoint are resiliently mounted upon the shaft 182 in a new and improved manner, shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 4 and 8. A reduced shaft 198,

which may be termed the retainer shaft, is

- connects the hollow portion 200 to the body portiongof the shaft 182. The'-hub202 is-provided with atransverse recess 204 within which is received a lug 206 that is secured to the reduced shaft 198, as by means of a set screw 208. A coil spring 216 maintains the lug'206 in engagement with the hub 202, so that the rocking movement of the shaft 182 may be yieldingly communicated to the re tainer shaft 198. In order that the engage ment of the lug 206 with the hub 202 maybe adjustable, a screw 210 is adjustably mounted inIthe-lug206. To permit adjusting the screw 210 without removing the removable housmg 212, an openings2'l l is provided in the housing through which a suitable tool may .enter.

The coil spring 216 that maintains the screw 210 in engagementwith the hubv 202'is fastened at one end 217 to the lug 206,.and'at the other end 218 to a clutch element 220 that .isloosely mounted about the shaft 182. The A clutch element isadapted to co-operate with a teeth 226. To adjust thetension of the spring 216, the clutch element'220 maybe rotatably adjusted about the shaft 182. To this end,

the clutch element 220 is provided with a plurality of openings 228 adapted toreceive an adjusting handle 230. The handle'230 :may be inserted through an opening'33lgl ig.

2. of the housing 212. Actuation of thehan die in one or the other direction, together with a slight sidewise'movement, if actuated counter-clockwise, will rotatably adjust the position o'f'the clutch element220 relatively to theclutch element 222. The ratchet teeth 226 preventaccidenta l rotation of'the clutch element 220 in a direction opposed to the force of thecoil spring. The tension of the spring may, in'this man1iei', tlirough the retainer point 40, bemade to yield a wiping action'by the wiper upon the strip 2 of any desired degree of tightness. The tension may 1 be made so great, indeed, as to cause the wiper to'tear the strip entirely awayfrom the upper. In practice,'the strip should be wiped just tightly enough to show the stitches at the seam joint between the upper and the strip,

at'233,'Fig. 21. If properly adjusted, the retainer will permit the wiper to act with the desired degree of tightness without the teeth 282 of the retainer point scratching the. stock.

Theretainer'153 and the retainer pointer-0 are carried upon a support 236 that is pivoted at 238 to the curved end 239 of the reduced retainer shaft/198. A spring 240 engages under a projection 2 12 of 'the support 236 and presses yieldingly against the projection to maintainthe latte-rin engagement with an adjustable limiting stop24t l, mounted upon the retainershaft 198. This yielding, pivotal mounting of'the retainer 153 andof'the retainer 4 point-40 --help,s to provide for equally distributed tension upon the stock by the retainer and the retainer point independently of variations in the thickness of the stock. The stop 2% is shown in the form of a screw, which may be threaded in or out a distance sufiicient to prevent the teeth of the re tainer point striking against and injuring the wiper when the machine runs idly.

As in the above-referred-to Patent No. 1,527,395, the chief purpose of the retainer153 is to prevent the stock being pushed outward away from the operating instrumentalities of the machine and to hold the stock firmly against accidental movement during the return movement of the feed elements. It is found, in practice, however, that the retainer point 10 is capable of performing these functions, in addition to the function for which it is primarily designed. This is particularly true when the retainer point 10 is supplied with the teeth 232 and is properly tensioned by the coil spring 216. The retainer 153 may therefore be dispensed with and the retainer point 246 may be directly connected to the retainer shaft 198, as is disclosed in the abovenamed Letters Patent No. 1,527 ,396. A still simpler construction, in which the retainer 253 acts continuously against the stock, is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the said copending application, Serial No. 581,154, filed August 11, 1922.

A retainer of this simpler character is particularly adapted for use with a stationary wiper of the type shown in Figs. 22 and 24 and in said application, Serial No. 581,154, though it may also be employed with the rotary wiper. This is because the wiping action of the modified wiper is entirely due to dragging the stock over the wiper, whereas when the rotary wiper is employed, the wiping action is caused primarily by the rotation of the wiper and secondarily by dragging the stock thereover at a time when the retainer point presses down less heavily, if at all. This will be discussed in further detail below. When the modified wiper is employed, therefore, it is well to have a retainer that presses down upon the stock during the dragging action. It will be understood, in this connection, that the screw 210 may be adjusted so that the retainer point never becomes completely raised from the work, but so that it is always effective to exert some pressure, though this pressure may be very slight during the stock-feeding movement.

In order to insert the stock, it is necessary to raise the retainer and the retainer point with the feed point. To effect this, an arm 318 is secured to the shaft 198 so as to extend above the feed point and to be engaged thereby when the feed point is raised by the treadle (not shown). As the feed point becomes raised, therefore, the shaft 198, with the retainer and the retainer point carried thereby, will be rocked axially, separating the screw 210 from the hub 202, in opposition to the action of the coil spring 216, the retainer and the retainer point becoming thus raised. The arm 318 is provided with a finger piece 320 to permit raising the retainer and the retainer point manually independently of the feed point.

The operation of the modified form of wiper shown in Fig. 19 is illustrated in Fig. 21 and is described in the said application Serial No. 581,15et. Views of the preferred rotary wiper and its operation corresponding to Figs. 19 and 21 are shown in Figs. 20 and 22. The modified wiper comprises a raised diagonally outstanding finger or bar 321 that is rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, as by a screw at 322. As the stock is advanced in the direction of the arrow, the strip 2 rides over the finger or bar 321, becoming wiped thereby. The action is substantially the same as that of the rotary wiper while the stock is being fed forward, the diagonal finger or bar being raised similarly to the raised circumferential edge 46 of the rotary wiper. WVere the rotary wiper stationary, the action of the raised edge, like that of the finger or bar 321, would be the whole action of the wiper. The rotation of the rotary wiper effects the additional result of positively rubbing or dragging or stretching outward at isolated points of the strip, while the strip is stationary during the return feed movement, to wipe the strip tightly across the edge of the sheet. The stationary wiper 321 can not perform this additional function.

The operation according to the present invention will be better understood from a study of Figures 9 to 16, which represent the relative positions of the operating instrumentalities of the illustrative machine at four equally spaced points in the cycle of operation. In Figs. 13 and 15, the feed elements are assumed to have reached the end of their forward movement. During this forward movement, the retainer and the wiper have both released their hold upon the stock. The fold presser is assumed to be descending to iron out the fold.

During the fold-pressing operation, the feed point rises, as is shown more particularly in Fig. 17, releasing its hold upon the material. \Vith the feed block and the plow, it then returns towards the positions illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11. During this return movement, the retainer 153 and the retainer point 40 press down hard, the latter pressing against the stock at a point opposite to the point of operation of the wiper. The wiper thus co-operates with the retainer point at this time, while the strip is stationary, to wipe or stretch the strip tightly across the edge of the stock, as shown in Fig. 15. The rotating, circumferential raised edge 46 of the wiper engages successive isolated points of the binding strip, wiping The plow may be inclmedat the most sultable angle, as shown in Fig. 6, for perfornr,

ing this folding operation most effectively. As the plow is rigid with the feed block, it acts alsoas a gage. The wiper is effective during substantially the whole return movement of the plow, and the foldingoperation of the plow continues until the plow is returned to'a point very close to the wiper, as shown in Fig. 9. Towards the end of the re turn movement of the feed elements, the feed point descends obliquely to the plow, froln the dotted-line positionto the full-linep osi tion of Fig. 6, effecting frictional engagement of the strip between the plow and'the interior side face 28 of the feed point, and causing the wiped strip to be pulled tightly in a direction away from the stitches. The feed pointand the feed blocl; clamp thematerial in preparation for the nextforward feed 1novement, Figs. 9 and 11. The feed point and the plow maintain'their tight hold upon the strip during the forward movementof the feed elements until the feed point again rises, atthe endof the saidforward movement. As the V feed point, the feed block and the plow move forward, they drag the stock over the wiper. As the raisedcircumferential edge l6 is higher than the body of the wiper, as wlll be clear from Fig. 22, this dragging action helps to wipe portions of the strip not previously wiped by the rotary action of thewiper. As has been explained before, the rotary w per acts at isolated points only, whilethe stock is stationary, during pauses in the feed, the

points intermediate these isolated points being Wipedby the above-described dragging action during the forward movement of the feed elements. lhe stock is'solidly gripped at. all times during the forward movement I ofthe feed elements, permitting no opportunity for the stock to slip, and the line of fold of the strip about the edges 4 and 8 is absolutely predetermined. The, initial, pre determined foldis advanced under the fold pr-esser, by which it is further folded and pressed. The above-described cycle of opera;

tions is then repeated.

Changes and modifications will obviously occur to persons skilled in the art, these arefconsidered to. be embraced within the spirit and .scope ofthe pres'entfinvention, as

' The invention having been thusillustr t fid and described what; s claimed as new is z images,

1. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the, said edge, .an edge of the stripv is secured so that the sheet and the stripextend from the secured-together edges. at an angle to each other, the saidmachine having, in combination, a wiper adapted to notate in substantially a plane parallel to the. plane of the sheet forwiping. successive por tions of, the strip across the secured-together edges, means for rotating the wiper, means for folding the successively wiped portions of the strip around the secured-together edges,

and means for pressing the successively folded portions of the strip into contact with the other face of the sheet.

2. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edgeof the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine havlng, 1n combination, a wiper adapted to rotate in substantially a plane parallel to the plane of the sheet for wiping successlve portions ofthe strip across the secured-together edges, means for rotating the wiper, a retalner adapted to press upon the other face of the sheet at a point opposite to the point of action ofthe wiper during the wiping action of the wiper, means for folding the successively wiped portions of the strip around the secured-together edges, and means fo'rQpress ing the successively folded portions of the strip into contact with the other face of the sheet. 7 i

'8. A machine for folding a strip around the edge 'of a sheet ofn aterial to'one face the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend, from the'secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said niachine havingfin combination, afwiper for wiping successive portions of the strip acrossfthe secured-together edges, a shaft for actuating the wiper, a bracketupon which the shaftis carried, means for adjusting the bracket, means for determining th'epos tion of ad ustment of the bracket, when for driving the, actuating shaft universally connected to the actuating shaft, means for driving the sec} ond-namedshaft, means for folding u g nt-Q cesslvely wiped port ons of the strip around the secured-together edges, means' for pressing the successively folded' portions of the strip into contact with the other face of thesheet.

, 4; A machine of thevclass described having, in combination, a; wiper for wir ng t iP a ro s e sd'ea s eet pim t r i l more face (servant; along the Sa:l Cl edgB,-, flill edge, ofthe strip islseeureclseitliat tlie. sheet' andv the strip, extend from the secured-ttigether dsesf n ang e n. ac h r, a ha t. or. actuating tlefwipen'a shaft having aball- V and-socket connection with the actuating shaft, and means for driving the secondnamed shaft, the ball and the socket elements of the ball-and-socket connection having a pin-and-slot relation to permit the second named shaft to drive the actuating shaft.

5. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheetof material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is secured, the said machine having, in combination, means for feeding the sheet and the strip, the said means con'iprising a feed element that is constructed and arranged to engage the strip to fold the strip around the "l e and to engage the said edge through p to gage the sheet, and means for operating the feed means.

6. A method of folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is secured, the said method comprising engaging the said edge with a member through the strip to fold the strip around the said edge and gage the sheet, and advancing the sheet and the member to feed the sheet and the strip.

7. A folding machine having, in combination, a feed element having an interior side face, a plow between which and the side face material is adapted to be gripped, the plow having an active face extending at an angle to the direction of feed, and means for relatively adjusting the plow and the feed element along the line of extension of the active face of the plow at the said angle to the direction of feed.

8. A folding machine having, in combination, a feed block, a plow, a feed point having a portion between which and the plow ma terial is adapted to be gripped, the feed block and the feed point being constructed and arranged to feed material, the plow having an acii we face extending at right angles to the direction of feed, and means for pivotally adjusting the plow to move towards and from said feed-point portion along the line of extension of the plow at right angles to the direction of feed.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a feed element, a retainer, and means whereby the feed element is adapted to engage the retainer to cause the retainer to be actuated with the feed element when the latter is actuated in a predetermined direction.

10. A machine of the class described havin con'ibination, a wiper for wiping. a strip across the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is secured, an adjustable retainer support, and a retainer for retaining the sheet against movement adjustably mounted upon the retainer support and adapted to co-opcrate with the wiper.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a wiper for wiping a strip across the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is secured, a retainer support, and a spring-pressed retainer for retaining material against movement adapted to cooperate with the wiper, the retainer being mounted on the support to pivot in opposition to the force of the spring.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a retainer shaft, and a retainer support mounted on the shaft having a retainer and a retainer point, the retainer point being yieldingly connected to the shaft.

13. A machine of the class described hav ing, in combination, a hollow rock shaft, a shaft loosely mount-ed therein carrying a retainer, and a spring connection between the shafts.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, a retainermounted loosely thereon, means for adjusting the normal angular position of the retainer upon the shaft, and a coil spring connecting the shaft to the adjusting means.

15. A machine of the class described hav ing, in. combination, a shaft, a retainer loosely mounted thereon, a coil spring connecting the retainer and the shaft, and means for adjust ing the tension of the spring. i

16. A folding machine having, in combination, a wiper, a retainer co-operating therewith, and means for rendering the retainer alternately heavily and less heavily effective.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a horizontally rocking support having a vertically disposed opening, a feed elementmounted on the support over the opening, a rod slidably mounted in the opening, a rod loosely connected to the support upon which the slidably mounted rod rests, a lever upon which the loosely connected rod rests, and manually controlled means for actuating the lever to cause the raising of the feed element.

18. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for moving the strip across the secured-together edges, means for folding the moved strip, and a table encircling the moving and folding means of relatively small width at one side of the moving and folding means and relatively large width at the other side of the moving and folding means, whereby the sheet of material may be fed with the strip underneath from the one side without hindrance from the table and may be supported by the table at the other side of the foldingmeans.

19. A folding machine having. in combination, a plow having an upstanding, active face, a feed point having a face adapted to co-operate with the active face of the plow, means for actuating the feed point to cause its active face to approach obliquely the active face of the plow, and means for relatively adjusting the plow and the feed point along the upstanding active face of the plow.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a Wiper, a retainer shaft, a retainer mounted thereon, a shaft springconnected to the retainer shaft, means for adjusting the tension of the spring-connection, and means for adjusting the retainer upon the retainer shaft.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a wiper, a retainer shaft, a retainer for clamping material against the wiper mounted on the shaft, and means for adjusting the retainer upon the shaft to prevent the retainer coming into contact with the wiper.

22. A method of folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is se cured, along the said edge, the strip is sethe strip around the said edge, engaging the said edge with a member through the strip to gage the sheet, and feeding the sheet and the strip.

23. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the saidedge, the strip is secured, the said machine having, in combination, means for feeding the sheet and the strip and for folding the strip around the said edge, and a member engaging the said edge through the strip to gage the sheet.

24;. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is secured, the said machine having, in combi-. nation, means for feeding the sheet and the strip, and means for engaging the said edge through the strip to gage the sheet, pulling the strip tightly and folding it around the secured-together edges, and pressing the strip into contact with the other face of the sheet, the last-named means comprising a combined gage and strip-pulling member.

25. A folding machine having, in combination, a support upon which material is adapted to rest, a plow for initiating a fold in the margin of the material pivoted to the support so as to move pivotally in a plane a at right angles to the support, and means yieldingly maintaining the plow in a limiting position of pivotal movement.

26. A folding machine having, in combination, a support upon which material is adapted to rest, a plow for initiating a fold in the margin of the material pivoted to the support so as to move pivotally in a plane at right angles to the support, and means mount ed upon the support for yieldingly maintaining the plow in a limiting position of piv otal movement.

27. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a feed block, a feed point, means for reciprocating the feed block and the feed point, means for moving the feed point toward the feed block during the movement of the feed point and the feed block in one direction of reciprocation, and means for adjustably limiting the degree of movement of the feed point toward the feed block.

28. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a feed block, a feed point, means for reciprocating the feed block and the feed point. means for moving the feed point toward the feed block during the movement of the feed point and the feed block in one direction of reciprocation. and two means, each adapted separately to limit the degree of movement of the feed point toward the feed block.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a feed block, a feed point, means for reciprocating the feed block and the feed point, means for yieldingly moving the feed point toward the feed block during the movement of the feed point and the feed block in one direction of reciprocation, means for adj nsting the yielding action of the yielding moving means, and means for limiting the degree of movement of the feed point toward the feed block.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a feed block, a feed point, means for reciprocating the feed block and the feed point, a leaf spring for moving the feed point toward the feed block during the movement of the feed point and the feed block in one direction of reciprocation, and a memher having a slot in which the leaf spring is mounted to prevent lateral movement of the leaf spring.

81. A folding machine having, in combination, means for feeding material, a pivoted plow for folding the material, means for maintaining the plow yieldingly in a predetermined position, and means for adjusting the predetermined posit-ion, the yielding-maintaining means being stiff so as to render it practically unyielding except under predetermined conditions.

32. A folding machine having, in combination, oscillating means, a plow mounted upon the oscillating means so as to oscillate therewith, means for maintaining the plow ieldingly in a predetermined position, and means for adjusting the predetermined position, the yielding-maintaining means being stii'i' so as to render it, practically unyielding eXcept under predetermined conditions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of August,

ANDREWV R. RIDDERSTROM.

CERTIFICATE G1 CGRRECTION.

Patent No. 1,740,408. Granted December 17, 1929, to

ANDREW R. RIDQERSTROM.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring eorreetisn as follows: Page 3, line 32, for the word "retracted" reed "retraeed"; page 8, line 25, claim 22, strike out the words and syllable "along the said edge, the strip is se-" and insert instead "the said method comprising folding"; and that the said Letters Patent sheuld be read with these eorreetiens therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of May, A. I). 1930.

M, J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

